Every day, drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians waste valuable time at traffic signals. It’s an experience so common we barely notice it—but the cumulative cost of poorly timed signals is anything but minor.
Inefficiencies at intersections contribute to longer commutes, more emissions, delayed emergency response times, and dangerous conditions for those trying to safely cross the street.
The impact is felt at every level, from frustrated commuters to under-resourced city agencies. Fortunately, there’s a better way forward.
The High Cost of Inefficient Signals
When traffic signals aren’t properly optimized, the effects ripple through the entire transportation system. Delays at intersections add up to billions of hours of lost time each year. Idling vehicles increase greenhouse gas emissions and degrade air quality, especially in densely populated urban areas. And when signals aren’t coordinated to support emergency vehicle passage or pedestrian safety, the consequences can be life-threatening.
Despite the high stakes, many cities still lack the tools to continuously monitor and adjust signal timing at scale—leaving critical opportunities for improvement untapped.
The Problem with Traditional Signal Optimization
For decades, transportation agencies have followed a well-established but resource-intensive process to optimize traffic signals. This process includes multiple steps: collecting turning movement counts and pedestrian activity data, conducting field observations, using modeling software to build optimized plans, and then implementing and refining those plans in the field. Agencies typically use simulation tools like SYNCHRO or TRANSYT to model operations and identify improvements.
While this approach can be effective, it comes with significant trade-offs. Field data collection is time-consuming and often expensive, especially when it requires temporary equipment or hired data collectors. Staff must manually validate performance, troubleshoot issues, and repeat the process every few years. Most cities are only able to retime signals on a corridor or area-wide basis every three to five years, meaning many signals go unoptimized for long stretches of time. And because these efforts often focus on high-priority intersections, the majority of a city’s signal network may remain unexamined between studies.
In short, the traditional approach works—but it’s slow, costly, and difficult to scale.
A Better Way to Understand Signal Performance
INRIX Signal Analytics offers a modern alternative. Instead of relying on periodic field studies or costly hardware installations, the platform uses data from connected vehicles and devices already traveling the roads. This approach makes it possible to evaluate signal performance across an entire network with far greater speed, scale, and cost efficiency.
By analyzing how vehicles actually move through intersections and corridors—turning, stopping, accelerating, or backing up—Signal Analytics helps agencies understand where and why delays are happening. The platform translates this data into intuitive dashboards and performance metrics that are accessible to traffic engineers, planners, and decision-makers alike.
With a broad, continuous view of signal operations, agencies are empowered to shift from reactive to proactive traffic management.
Turning Data into Action
Signal Analytics isn’t just about visibility—it’s about impact. With up-to-date performance data at their fingertips, agencies can pinpoint underperforming intersections or corridors without waiting for public complaints or sporadic field reviews.
Once signal improvements are implemented, the platform allows users to compare performance over time—making it easier to assess the success of changes and guide future investments. Whether it’s identifying a corridor with excessive delays or evaluating a newly retimed intersection, the data makes it possible to measure results and communicate value to stakeholders.
This shift toward ongoing, scalable analysis gives cities the ability to continuously fine-tune traffic signal performance—without being limited by staff availability or fieldwork logistics.
Real-World Results, Citywide Benefits
Cities using INRIX Signal Analytics have already seen real-world benefits. Improved signal coordination has led to smoother traffic flow, reduced delays, and safer intersections for pedestrians and drivers alike. With greater insight into what’s happening on the ground—and the tools to act on it—transportation agencies can deliver more responsive, efficient, and equitable mobility for their communities.
As urban areas continue to grow and change, traditional methods alone can’t keep pace. INRIX Signal Analytics helps cities modernize their signal management strategies and meet the needs of today’s transportation challenges.
See What’s Possible
Watch our latest Signal Analytics video to see how cities are transforming the way they manage traffic signals using connected vehicle data and advanced analytics. Ready to optimize your traffic signals? Learn more or request a demo today